After his bike was stolen in the UK, Mumbai man calls India the safest place to travel

Mumbai Man Calls India the Safest Place to Travel After Bike Theft in the UK (Image Credit: instagram.com/roaming_wheeels/)

An Indian motorcyclist on a round-the-world journey has described India as the “safest place to travel” after his motorcycle and belongings were stolen while visiting the UK.

Yogesh Alekari, a 33-year-old adventurer from Mumbai, had been 15,000 miles (24,140 km) into his global motorcycle challenge when the theft occurred. Alekari, who began his journey on 1 May, had traveled through more than 17 countries across Asia and Europe, including Iran, Nepal, China, Kazakhstan, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, and France.

The incident took place at Wollaton Park in Nottingham around 11:00 BST on Thursday. Alekari had parked his KTM 390 Adventure motorbike in a busy area, believing it to be safe. He returned after breakfast to find both his bike and storage boxes, containing his MacBook, cameras, spare phone, cash, passport, and clothing, stolen. The total value of the items exceeded £15,000.

Video footage from a visitor at the park showed the motorbike being taken away, flanked by two mopeds. “I just broke down and started crying when I realized what had happened,” Alekari told BBC News. “They stole my motorcycle, but this wasn’t only a motorbike — it was my home, it was my dream, it was my everything as a traveler.”

Despite contacting the Nottinghamshire Police, Alekari said no officers were able to attend immediately, leaving him feeling frustrated. “I called the police, and they just sent me a crime number. I waited in the park, but no one came back,” he explained. Nottinghamshire Police later confirmed they are conducting local inquiries and urged anyone with information to come forward.

Sharing his experience on Instagram from his handle @roaming_wheeels, Alekari commented:

“UK police failed to control theft crimes in this country. India is the safest place to travel. We never ever lock our wheels in India — that’s the success of our police system.”

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A post shared by Yogesh Alekari (@roaming_wheeels)

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Alekari’s post has sparked conversations about safety for travelers in different countries, highlighting how perceptions of security can vary widely. Despite the setback, Alekari hopes to continue his journey, which includes plans to explore Africa, from Spain to Morocco, and down to Cape Town before returning to India.